• lenny-learning-logoLenny Learning
  • Home
    Home
    • Lessons
    Lessons
  • Curriculum
    Curriculum
  • Surveys
    Surveys
  • Videos
    Videos
  • Support
    Support
  • Log In
lenny

Words Matter

lcasey

Tier 3
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Session 1 Lesson Plan

Students will learn to distinguish between denotation and connotation, identify each in examples, and discuss how word choice affects tone and meaning.

Understanding literal vs. emotional meanings helps ESL learners choose words precisely, avoid misunderstandings, and communicate with empathy.

Audience

8th Grade ESL Student

Time

10 minutes

Approach

Definition, examples, guided discussion, and worksheet practice

Materials

Session 1 Slide Deck, and Denotation vs Connotation Worksheet

Prep

Review Materials

5 minutes

  • Review Session 1 Slide Deck and speaker notes to reinforce key definitions.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Denotation vs Connotation Worksheet.
  • Select additional word examples aligned to the student’s interests and language level.
  • Prepare brief scaffolding (synonyms, visuals) for challenging vocabulary.

Step 1

Introduction to Denotation

2 minutes

  • Greet the student and introduce the “Words Matter” theme.
  • Show Slide 1 of Session 1 Slide Deck defining denotation.
  • Ask the student to explain in their own words what denotation means.

Step 2

Exploring Connotation

3 minutes

  • Display Slide 2 of Session 1 Slide Deck describing connotation with positive and negative examples.
  • Discuss how connotation adds emotional meaning beyond the dictionary definition.
  • Invite the student to share an example of a word they know and its connotation.

Step 3

Worksheet Practice

3 minutes

  • Provide the Denotation vs Connotation Worksheet.
  • Have the student complete the first two items, identifying the denotation and connotation of each word.
  • Offer support: clarify meanings, suggest synonyms, and confirm answers.

Step 4

Wrap-up & Reflection

2 minutes

  • Summarize the difference between denotation and connotation.
  • Ask the student to think of a word with different emotional tones and share how the connotation changes perception.
  • Preview Session 2: examining how word choice builds empathy.
lenny

Slide Deck

Session 1: Denotation vs Connotation

In this session, we will:

  • Learn what denotation means
  • Learn what connotation means
  • See how word choice affects tone

Welcome the student to Session 1 of “Words Matter.” Explain that today we’ll explore two key ways words carry meaning: denotation and connotation. Review the objectives on the slide.

Denotation

Denotation is the literal, dictionary definition of a word.
Example:

  • “House”: a building where people live

Define denotation and ask the student to restate it in their own words. Show the example and encourage the student to suggest another word and its dictionary meaning.

Connotation

Connotation is the emotional or cultural association of a word.
Examples:

  • “House”: feels warm and safe (positive)
  • “Shack”: feels small and poorly built (negative)

Define connotation, then discuss how connotation adds emotion or tone. Ask the student what feelings come to mind with each example word.

Examples and Practice

Word: “Snake”
– Denotation: a legless reptile
– Connotation: dangerous, sneaky

Word: “Childlike”
– Denotation: like a child
– Connotation: innocent, curious

Guide the student through each example. Have them identify both denotation and connotation for each word. Offer hints or synonyms if they’re unsure.

Wrap-up & Reflection

Key takeaway:

  • Denotation = literal meaning
  • Connotation = emotional meaning

Reflection:
Think of a word you know. What is its denotation and what feelings or associations does it carry?

Next up: How word choice builds empathy.

Summarize the key difference between denotation and connotation. Prompt the student with the reflection question and preview Session 2 (building empathy with word choice).

lenny

Worksheet

Session 1: Denotation vs Connotation Worksheet

Part 1: Identifying Denotation and Connotation

  1. Word: “Snake”
    Denotation:



    Connotation:


  2. Word: “Childlike”
    Denotation:



    Connotation:


  3. Word: “House”
    Denotation:



    Connotation:


  4. Word: “Shack”
    Denotation:



    Connotation:


Part 2: Practice with New Words

  1. Word: “Frugal”
    Denotation:



    Connotation:


  2. Word: “Cheap”
    Denotation:



    Connotation:


Part 3: Reflection

  1. In your own words, what is the difference between denotation and connotation?


  2. Choose your own word: ____________________
  • Denotation:











  • Connotation:











lenny
lenny

Discussion

Session 1 Discussion

Objective

  • Practice using denotation and connotation in conversation
  • Explore how word choice affects emotion and tone

Guidelines

  • Speak in full sentences when you can
  • Use vocabulary from Session 1 Slide Deck and the Denotation vs Connotation Worksheet
  • There are no wrong answers—be creative and honest!

Warm-Up

  1. Choose one word from the worksheet (e.g., “snake” or “childlike”).
    • Denotation:

    • Connotation (emotion or image):

  2. Pick a new English word you like.
    • Word:

    • Denotation:

    • Connotation:

Main Discussion Questions

  1. Compare “house” and “shack.”
    • How do their connotations differ?

    • When might you choose one word instead of the other?

    • Follow-up: What if you used “castle” instead of “house”? How would that change the tone?

  2. Think about “frugal” vs. “cheap.”
    • Which word feels more positive? Why?

    • Follow-up: Can you imagine a context where calling someone “cheap” is insulting?

  3. Why is it important to consider both denotation and connotation when you write or speak?
    • How can the right word choice show empathy in communication?

Wrap-Up Reflection

  • Which new word or idea did you find most interesting today? Why?

  • How will you pay attention to connotation the next time you write an email, story, or talk with a friend?


lenny
lenny

Activity

Session 1: Word Choice Role-Play

Objective

  • Practice using denotation and connotation in spoken contexts
  • Apply precise word choice to create the right tone and feeling

Guidelines

  • Speak in full sentences when possible
  • Choose words intentionally to match your message
  • Listen actively and respond with curiosity

Scenario 1: Describing a Home

You’re inviting a friend to a party at your place. Choose one word to describe your home:

  • house
  • shack
  • castle

Role-play Steps:

  1. Speaker (Student): “I’m excited to invite you to my ______.”

  2. Listener (Teacher): Ask, “What does that word make me imagine?”

  3. Speaker: Explain why you chose that word and what feeling it gives.

Your Turn:

  • Word chosen: ____________________

  • Why I chose it:



Scenario 2: Talking about Money

You want to describe a friend who saves money carefully. Choose one word:

  • frugal
  • cheap

Role-play Steps:

  1. Speaker (Student): “My friend is very ______.”

  2. Listener (Teacher): Ask, “How does that word make me feel about your friend?”

  3. Speaker: Describe how you feel the word shows your friend’s behavior.

Your Turn:

  • Word chosen: ____________________

  • How it feels:



Debrief & Reflection

  1. How did your word choice change how the listener imagined the scene or person?


  2. Which scenario felt easier or harder? Why?


  3. How will you think about denotation and connotation when you choose words in the future?




lenny
lenny

Lesson Plan

Session 2 Lesson Plan

Students will learn how choosing positive connotation words over negative ones can build empathy by comparing word pairs and practicing empathetic sentences.

Empathy in communication fosters understanding and rapport; ESL learners need to grasp how tone shifts with word choice to connect effectively.

Audience

8th Grade ESL Student

Time

10 minutes

Approach

Compare pairs, discussion, and worksheet practice

Materials

Session 2 Slide Deck, and Empathy Word Choice Worksheet

Prep

Review Materials

5 minutes

  • Review Session 2 Slide Deck and speaker notes on empathy.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Empathy Word Choice Worksheet.
  • Prepare 1–2 additional word pairs relevant to the student’s interests.
  • Think of real-life scenarios to illustrate empathic versus harsh language.

Step 1

Introduction to Empathy and Word Choice

2 minutes

  • Greet the student and recap Session 1 (denotation vs. connotation).
  • Define empathy (understanding others’ feelings) with examples.
  • Show Slide 1 of Session 2 Slide Deck explaining why empathetic language matters.

Step 2

Exploring Word Pairs

3 minutes

  • Display Slide 2 of Session 2 Slide Deck with these word pairs and connotations:
    • Stubborn vs Determined
    • Childish vs Playful
    • Aggressive vs Assertive
  • For each pair, ask: “How does the positive word make you feel compared to the negative one?”
  • Discuss tone shifts and empathetic impact.

Step 3

Worksheet Practice

3 minutes

  • Provide the Empathy Word Choice Worksheet.
  • Have the student match each negative word to its positive counterpart.
  • Ask the student to write one short sentence using each positive word in an empathetic context.
  • Offer support: clarify meanings and check tone.

Step 4

Wrap-Up & Reflection

2 minutes

  • Summarize how positive connotation builds empathy.
  • Ask the student to choose one word pair they’ll use in real life and explain why.
  • Preview Session 3: analyzing empathetic vs. neutral word use in real-world texts.
lenny

Slide Deck

Session 2: Building Empathy with Word Choice

In this session, we will:

  • Define empathy and its importance
  • Compare negative vs. positive word pairs
  • Practice choosing words that show understanding

Welcome the student to Session 2 of “Words Matter.” Recap that in Session 1 we learned about denotation vs. connotation. Explain that today we’ll focus on using word choice to show empathy.

What Is Empathy?

Empathy means understanding and sharing someone else’s feelings.

Why it matters:

  • Creates trust and connection
  • Makes others feel heard and valued

Think: Which words make you feel supported?

Define empathy in simple terms and connect it to word choice. Use an example scenario (e.g., comforting a friend).

Negative vs. Positive Words

Stubborn vs Determined
Childish vs Playful
Aggressive vs Assertive

Ask: How does each positive word make you feel compared to its negative partner?

Introduce three common word pairs. Point out how the negative word can sound critical, while the positive word sounds supportive.

Practice Empathy with Words

Your task:

  1. Match each negative word to its positive counterpart.
  2. Write one sentence for each positive word to show empathy.

Example: “She is determined to learn English, so I will help her practice every day.”

Preview the worksheet activity. Encourage the student to match pairs and write empathetic sentences using the positive words.

lenny

Worksheet

Session 2: Empathy Word Choice Worksheet

Part 1: Match Each Pair

Match the negative word in Column A with its positive counterpart in Column B. Write the letter on the blank line.

Column A:

  1. Stubborn _____
  2. Childish _____
  3. Aggressive _____

Column B:
A. Assertive
B. Playful
C. Determined

Part 2: Empathy Sentences

Write one sentence for each positive word that shows understanding and support.

  1. Determined: _______________________________________________________________


  2. Playful: _________________________________________________________________


  3. Assertive: _______________________________________________________________


Part 3: Reflection

Choose one word pair from above:

  • Word pair: _______________________

  • Why will you use this word in real life? ____________________________________________________________________



lenny
lenny

Discussion

Session 2 Discussion

Objective

  • Practice choosing words that create empathy and positive tone
  • Explore how different word pairs change feelings and meaning

Guidelines

  • Speak in full sentences whenever possible
  • Use vocabulary from Session 2 Slide Deck and the Empathy Word Choice Worksheet
  • Be respectful and thoughtful in your responses

Warm-Up

  1. Choose one word pair from the worksheet (e.g., Stubborn/Determined).
    • Negative word:

    • Positive word:

  2. How does the positive word make you feel compared to the negative one?

Main Discussion Questions

  1. Stubborn vs. Determined
    • What images or feelings come to mind with stubborn?

    • What about determined?

    • In what situation would you choose determined to encourage someone?

  2. Childish vs. Playful
    • When might calling someone childish sound hurtful or rude?

    • When does playful sound friendly or fun?

    • Can you think of a time you used a playful word to make someone smile?

  3. Aggressive vs. Assertive
    • How does aggressive feel in a conversation?

    • How does assertive show respect and confidence?

    • Describe a scenario where being assertive helps solve a problem.

  4. Applying Empathy
    • Imagine a friend is upset after losing a game. Which positive word from today would you use to encourage them? Why?


Wrap-Up Reflection

  • Which word pair did you find most useful for showing empathy? Why?

  • How will you remember to choose positive words in your next conversation or writing?


lenny
lenny

Activity

Session 2: Empathy Writing Activity

Objective

  • Practice writing empathetic messages using positive connotation words
  • Reinforce how tone and word choice build understanding and support

Guidelines

  • Use full sentences when possible
  • Choose at least one positive word from Session 2 Empathy Word Choice Worksheet in each message
  • Focus on making the reader feel heard and valued

Scenario 1: Encouraging a Friend

Your friend is feeling overwhelmed by a big school project. Write a short message using the word determined to encourage them.

Message:










Scenario 2: Lightening the Mood

A classmate seems sad before a difficult test. Write a playful note using the word playful to help them relax and smile.

Note:










Scenario 3: Offering Advice

Someone you know is shy about speaking up in class. Use the word assertive in a supportive sentence to show how they can share their ideas.

Advice:










Debrief & Reflection

  1. Which message do you feel shows the most empathy? Why?





  2. How did using a positive word change the tone of your message?





  3. Which positive word from today will you try to use in your next conversation or email? Why?





lenny
lenny

Lesson Plan

Session 3 Lesson Plan

Students will analyze neutral vs. empathetic language in real‐world texts and practice rewriting neutral statements to show understanding and support.

Being able to spot tone in everyday reading helps ESL learners choose words that build rapport and avoid unintended cold or harsh impressions.

Audience

8th Grade ESL Student

Time

10 minutes

Approach

Text analysis, guided discussion, and rewrite practice

Materials

Session 3 Slide Deck, and Empathy Text Analysis Worksheet

Prep

Review and Select Texts

5 minutes

  • Review Session 3 Slide Deck and speaker notes on tone analysis.
  • Familiarize yourself with the Empathy Text Analysis Worksheet.
  • Choose 1–2 short real‐world text examples (e.g., email, chat message) relevant to the student’s interests.
  • Prepare scaffolding: translations or vocabulary support for challenging phrases.

Step 1

Recap and Introduction

2 minutes

  • Greet the student and recap key takeaways from Sessions 1–2 (connotation and empathy).
  • Define neutral vs empathetic tone with simple examples on Slide 1 of Session 3 Slide Deck.
  • Ask: “Why might some messages sound cold or supportive?”

Step 2

Text Analysis

3 minutes

  • Display Slide 2 of Session 3 Slide Deck with two short sample texts (one neutral, one empathetic).
  • Read each aloud and ask the student to identify words or phrases that feel neutral/cold vs warm/supportive.
  • Discuss how small changes shift meaning and tone.

Step 3

Worksheet Practice

3 minutes

  • Provide the Empathy Text Analysis Worksheet.
  • Have the student label each sentence as Neutral or Empathetic and highlight the key words.
  • Offer support: clarify vocabulary and confirm their labels.

Step 4

Rewrite Activity

2 minutes

  • Ask the student to choose one neutral sentence from the worksheet.
  • Guide them to rewrite it using empathetic words or phrases learned in Sessions 1–2.
  • Share their rewrite and discuss how the tone and perceived meaning changed.
lenny

Slide Deck

Session 3: Analyzing Tone in Real-World Texts

In this session, we will:

  • Define neutral vs. empathetic tone
  • Analyze sample texts
  • Practice rewriting statements to be more supportive

Welcome the student to Session 3 of “Words Matter.” Recap that in Sessions 1–2 we explored denotation vs. connotation and using positive word choice to build empathy. Explain that today we’ll analyze tone in real-world texts and practice rewriting neutral statements to sound more supportive.

Neutral vs. Empathetic Tone

Neutral Tone: facts only, little emotion

Empathetic Tone: words that show care and understanding

Example Neutral:
"Please submit your report by Friday."

Example Empathetic:
"I know you’ve been working hard. Could you please submit your report by Friday? Thank you!"

Define neutral and empathetic tone with simple language. Use the examples on the slide to show how adding caring words changes the feeling. Ask: “Why might some messages feel cold or supportive?”

Sample Texts

  1. Neutral:
    "I’m busy. Finish this by Friday."

  2. Empathetic:
    "I understand you’re busy. Would you mind finishing this by Friday? I appreciate your effort."

Introduce two short sample texts. Read each aloud and prompt the student to notice words or phrases that create a neutral (cold) or supportive (warm) tone.

Analyze the Texts

Your task:

  1. Label each sentence as Neutral or Empathetic
  2. Highlight words or phrases that show tone

Use the Empathy Text Analysis Worksheet

Explain the analysis activity and direct the student to the worksheet. Encourage them to label each sentence as Neutral or Empathetic and underline key words.

Rewrite for Empathy

Choose one neutral sentence from the worksheet and rewrite it with an empathetic tone.

Think about:

  • Adding kind words
  • Showing understanding
  • Using positive connotations

Introduce the rewrite exercise. Ask the student to choose one neutral sentence from the worksheet and rewrite it with an empathetic tone using words learned in Sessions 1–2.

lenny

Worksheet

Session 3: Empathy Text Analysis Worksheet

Part 1: Label the Tone

  1. Sentence: “I’m busy. Finish this by Friday.”
    Tone (circle one): Neutral Empathetic ______
    Key words or phrases that show tone:


  2. Sentence: “I understand you’re busy. Would you mind finishing this by Friday? I appreciate your effort.”
    Tone (circle one): Neutral Empathetic ______
    Key words or phrases that show tone:


Part 2: Rewrite for Empathy

  1. Choose one neutral sentence from Part 1: ____________________


    Rewrite it to sound more empathetic:




Part 3: Reflection

  1. What words or phrases did you add to make your sentence more empathetic?


  2. How does your new sentence make the reader feel compared to the original?




lenny
lenny